Escape London: Britain's 10 best villages

Star quality: it is at the confluence of three rivers. Edith Nesbit, author of
The Railway Children, described the Medway here as “a river of dreams” with
“one of the most beautiful bridges in Europe”.

“Great fun,” says Edward Rook of Knight Frank in Sevenoaks. “There is such a
variety of village activities. Sports clubs include cricket, football, table
tennis, running, squash and canoeing with the Sea Scouts.”

The Church of England primary school is cherished and there are grammar
schools all around. There are village picnics, apple-picking afternoons and
a monthly farmers’ market with fire-eaters at Christmas.